A TV simulcast that began life as an effort to raise funds to help victims of Hurricane Harvey in Texas has been expanded to also raise funds for victims of Irma — and will now air across more than a dozen TV networks, the AP reports.
The one-hour program, “Hand in Hand: A Benefit for Hurricane Relief,” is slated to kick off tonight at 8 p.m. ET/PT, with Barbra Streisand, Beyonce, Oprah Winfrey, Drake, Leonardo DiCaprio, Julia Roberts, George Clooney, Jamie Foxx, Matt Lauer, Ryan Seacrest, Justin Timberlake and other celebrities scheduled to participate.
Among the networks expected to take part in the simulcast are ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, HBO, MTV, MTV2, BET, CMT, Univision and E!, with many of the cable channels to air the program live on both coasts (8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT).
The telethon, organized by Houston rap artist Bun B and Hollywood talent manager Scooter Braun, will originate from Los Angeles but also will feature stages in New York and Nashville, the AP notes. The United Way and Save the Children will be among the beneficiaries.
Red Cross should get the proceeds. United Way and Save the Children are not one of the groups on the ground.
Red Cross is notorious for not spending the money on the disaster for which it was raised. It goes back to WWII, when they charged the troops for the donated coffee & donuts. They fill their coffers and send a pittance to the victims. Just do a little research and you’ll hear many sad stories of the Red Cross ineptitude.